06/2010

PHOENIX (June 15, 2010) – The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality and Arizona Attorney General’s Office announced today that the owner of a former Parker-area convenience store has agreed to pay $80,000 in cleanup costs and penalties for underground storage tank violations near the Colorado River.

Plantation Park, Inc., which was located at 8010 Riverside Drive north of Parker in La Paz County, operated a gas station for many years within 500 feet of the Colorado River and within one mile of six private water wells.

(Phoenix, Ariz. - June 2, 2010) Attorney General Terry Goddard today recognized the start of Internet Safety Month and urged parents to make online safety part of their summer family discussions.

"Summer brings major changes in school and family activities. This is the best time for families to discuss Internet safety,” Goddard said. "With kids home more during the summer, online predators expect they will be spending more time online chatting with their friends, playing games or just exploring the Internet."

(Phoenix, Ariz. - June 3, 2010) Attorney General Terry Goddard has filed a lawsuit against Discount Mortgage Relief and Mortgage Relief, LLC, (DMR/MR), based in Scottsdale, and its owners for engaging in allegedly deceptive loan modification services.

(Phoenix, Ariz. – June 7, 2010) Attorney General Terry Goddard today announced the sentencing of John Frederick Farinas, 39, of Phoenix to 18 years in prison for assisting a criminal street gang and possession of prison contraband. The State alleged at trial that Farinas was a lieutenant in the Mexican Mafia prison gang and had conspired to introduce prison contraband for the profit of gang members in the 4th Avenue Jail in Phoenix.

(Phoenix, Ariz. - June 8, 2010) Stepping up his efforts to prevent home loan rescue scams, Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard today announced the release of a free, five-and-half-minute educational video that provides useful information about home foreclosure and tips to avoid becoming a victim of scam artists.

The video is available on the Attorney General’s website, www.azag.gov. It was made possible by last year’s historic settlement between the State of Arizona and Countrywide Financial Corporation.

PHOENIX (June 8, 2010) – The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality and Arizona Attorney General’s Office announced today that the owner of a former Prescott convenience store and its affiliates have agreed to pay up to $400,000 in cleanup costs and penalties in a settlement involving underground storage tanks in Prescott and nine other sites around the state.

(Phoenix, Ariz. - June 9, 2010) Attorney General Terry Goddard today announced the formation of “Operation Sunset”, an enforcement initiative of the Office designed to aggressively pursue payday lenders who attempt to evade the ban on payday loans. The Office will take action against any payday lenders that continue offering loans with illegally high interest rates after the law expires on June 30.

(Phoenix, Ariz. – June 29, 2010) Attorney General Terry Goddard today announced the indictment of Dr. Corina Hollander, 56, of Tucson and seven other individuals who are accused of participating in a large-scale prescription drug fraud.

Hollander, a Tucson podiatrist, was charged with conspiracy, participating in a criminal syndicate, three counts of fraud, eight counts of trafficking in the identity of another person, six counts of forgery, 68 counts of obtaining a narcotic drug by fraud and nine counts of obtaining a dangerous drug by fraud.

(Phoenix, Ariz. - June 16, 2010) The Arizona Attorney General’s Office and the Arizona Department of Gaming today announced a joint operation combating the proliferation of illegal gambling machines. A task force of agents and investigators from both offices seized more than 70 gambling machines known as Coin-Pushers at 57 metro Phoenix locations.

The Arizona Department of Liquor and the Arizona Department of Public Safety actively assisted in the operation.